Don’t Overlook Gunners On Home Soil

FOOTBALL BETTING: Live On ITV1: Weds 19:45
Arsenal entertain Barcelona at the the Emirates in this eagerly awaited Champions League Quarter Final first leg. Chris Hutcheon previews the action.

Holders Barcelona are just 21/10 with Totesport to retain the Champions League Trophy and the bookies’ confidence in the Catalans club is reflected in the 2/5 that Betfred offer for them to eliminate Arsenal in the pair’s quarter final contest.

Pep Guardiola’s side are also Paddy Power’s 11/8 favourites to emerge triumphant in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium but as Barca have won only one of their four away matches in the competition this season, drawing the other three at Stuttgart, Inter and Rubin Kazan, there’s a suggestion that perhaps the layers are too keen to keep the defending champions onside.

At 11/5 with Victor Chandler then, the Gunners have perhaps been underestimated and even if Barcelona’s quality at home means Arsenal perhaps don’t appeal at the same price, this time courtesy of 888Sport, to qualify for the last four; Arsene Wenger’s men are more than capable of capitalising on the visitors’ lack of fluency on the road.

For the more cautious, Partybets chalk 4/7 against the Gunners avoiding defeat but the game’s eye catching punt is bet365’s 4/1 for Wenger’s charges to shade it by one.

Decent on the road, CSKA Moscow has also been underestimated as they head to the San Siro to face Chelsea’s conquerors Inter. It’s perhaps a bit bold to suggest that the Russian side are worth backing at 8/1 with Jaxx.com to prevail in the away leg but at 15/8 (William Hill) to avoid defeat they’re worth considering and they may go on to burst Jose Mourinho’s bubble by qualifying for the next phase; an outcome Betdaq quote at 14/5.